the Black Spot
Member
Wanting to shoot this out of an uberti cattleman in 44 special. Bullseye or blue dot ok to use? Open to all suggestions.
44 special ..315 gr cast bullet..?
- Thread starter the Black Spot
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RidgwayCO
Member
My only suggestions are: 1) Don't use Bullseye for this application, and 2) Be very, very careful!
The only published reference I've been able to find for heavy bullets in the .44 Special is Brian Pearce's article in Handloader #236. He tested a Dry Creek 307gr lead SWC bullet load using H110, but the load generates about 25,000 psi, so wouldn't be suitable AT ALL for your Uberti (as a reference, SAAMI maximum average pressure for the .44 Special is 15,500 psi). Pearce recommends that all Colt SAA clones (of which the Uberti is one) be limited to 15,500 psi or less, and I think that's a very wise recommendation.
I'm currently working up some 290gr LSWC .44 Special loads for my Ruger Bisley Flattop, while keeping pressures within the 15,500 psi SAAMI limits. I'm using QuickLOAD and a chronometer to try and develop these loads safely. The powders I'm working with are VihtaVuori N105, Accurate #9, Alliant 2400, and VihtaVuori N110, all of which have a slower burn rate than your Blue Dot. My initial results have been good, but I wouldn't even be attempting this without the QL/chrono combination, and the strength of the Ruger to hold it all together... Also, I'm only looking for a velocity of about 850 fps from the Ruger's 5-1/2" barrel.
Best of luck in your pursuit of a truly "heavyweight" .44 Special.
The only published reference I've been able to find for heavy bullets in the .44 Special is Brian Pearce's article in Handloader #236. He tested a Dry Creek 307gr lead SWC bullet load using H110, but the load generates about 25,000 psi, so wouldn't be suitable AT ALL for your Uberti (as a reference, SAAMI maximum average pressure for the .44 Special is 15,500 psi). Pearce recommends that all Colt SAA clones (of which the Uberti is one) be limited to 15,500 psi or less, and I think that's a very wise recommendation.
I'm currently working up some 290gr LSWC .44 Special loads for my Ruger Bisley Flattop, while keeping pressures within the 15,500 psi SAAMI limits. I'm using QuickLOAD and a chronometer to try and develop these loads safely. The powders I'm working with are VihtaVuori N105, Accurate #9, Alliant 2400, and VihtaVuori N110, all of which have a slower burn rate than your Blue Dot. My initial results have been good, but I wouldn't even be attempting this without the QL/chrono combination, and the strength of the Ruger to hold it all together... Also, I'm only looking for a velocity of about 850 fps from the Ruger's 5-1/2" barrel.
Best of luck in your pursuit of a truly "heavyweight" .44 Special.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
+1
Wouldn't be prudent!!!
At standard .44 Spl pressure in the Uberti, it would not have enough velocity to hardly get down range anyway.
rc
Wouldn't be prudent!!!
At standard .44 Spl pressure in the Uberti, it would not have enough velocity to hardly get down range anyway.
rc
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Yep, leave the heavy stuff for Rugers, Colts, S&W N-frames and USFA's. I've shot the heavy Keith load out of a Uberti but wouldn't make a habit of it. The classic Skeeter load consisting of a 240-250gr cast bullet over 7.5gr Unique for 950fps is a very good general purpose load that won't overstress your SAA.
OP
OP
the Black Spot
Member
so 7 - 7.5 gr of blue dot is too much with a 315 gr? i do have a lee mold that drops a wheel weight cast bullet at 260 grains, how would i be with 4.5 gr of bullseye or 8 grains of blue dot with the 260 grain bullet?
not looking for suped up .44, wanting to keep all to about 700- 800 fps. i do want to work with what i have which is 260 grain and 315 gr cast bullets, bullseye and blue dot.
thanks in advance.
not looking for suped up .44, wanting to keep all to about 700- 800 fps. i do want to work with what i have which is 260 grain and 315 gr cast bullets, bullseye and blue dot.
thanks in advance.
James2
Member
I have a mold that drops a 255 gr bullet. I have been using that one for years. I don't have any data for heavier bullets in the 44 Spl. I have noticed that the current loading manuals have dropped the charge weights down a bit from what they were in previous works. Unique has been my powder of choice for the 44 Spl.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I agree it's a dead end but I don't think stabilization will be an issue. If 355's stabilize out of a .44Mag with a 1-20" twist, then a 315gr should do fine at .44Spl velocities.
The issue is that you're not really gaining anything. The Skeeter load will shoot through any deer that walks and even elk at most angles but unless you can get that 315gr running similar speeds you're not gonna gain any effectiveness.
The issue is that you're not really gaining anything. The Skeeter load will shoot through any deer that walks and even elk at most angles but unless you can get that 315gr running similar speeds you're not gonna gain any effectiveness.
OP
OP
the Black Spot
Member
i will stick with the 260 grain cast bullet. thanks all for the replies.
Harley Quinn
Member
The recoil would increase if you find a powder combo you like...Bullseye is a no no imho...Unique would be ok...
Many of your hot dog rounds actually drop the weight, and add velocity to assist in recoil...
.357 comes to mind...
Many of your hot dog rounds actually drop the weight, and add velocity to assist in recoil...
.357 comes to mind...
OP
OP
the Black Spot
Member
CraigC said "the issue is you're really not gaining anything"(by using 315 bullet).
i agree, the only thing i would gain is that i already have a 315 gr bullet mold and i shoot this bullet in my .444 marlin and superblackhawk. i could just have one mold for a combo of guns.
here is what i have to work with: 255 gr lee mold - 310 gr lee mold (these drop 260gr and 315 gr)
bullseye, blue dot, 2400, and lilgun powders.
now can anyone come up with some suggestions using these powders and bullets.
NOT looking for OTHER powders/bullet combo's. (the all caps is for emphasis, i am not yelling)
thanks in advance.
i agree, the only thing i would gain is that i already have a 315 gr bullet mold and i shoot this bullet in my .444 marlin and superblackhawk. i could just have one mold for a combo of guns.
here is what i have to work with: 255 gr lee mold - 310 gr lee mold (these drop 260gr and 315 gr)
bullseye, blue dot, 2400, and lilgun powders.
now can anyone come up with some suggestions using these powders and bullets.
NOT looking for OTHER powders/bullet combo's. (the all caps is for emphasis, i am not yelling)
thanks in advance.
Harley Quinn
Member
As you can see from this site...
http://www.reloadammo.com/44sloads.htm
They mention Unique but 2400 could be used...Problem is the heavy bullet and space for enough room to have enough in there to get it going
Then again the bullet is just not one used in that loading...44spl...
Stick with the 255 grn. for the 44 spl imho, and look at the link...It mentions... 2400 11.3 gr. 805 fps... It would work well imho at 11.0 or so...
You could add the .3 after shooting 10 and see what the primers look like and ease of removal...2400 is forgiving in that round and revolver...
Regards
http://www.reloadammo.com/44sloads.htm
They mention Unique but 2400 could be used...Problem is the heavy bullet and space for enough room to have enough in there to get it going
Then again the bullet is just not one used in that loading...44spl...
Stick with the 255 grn. for the 44 spl imho, and look at the link...It mentions... 2400 11.3 gr. 805 fps... It would work well imho at 11.0 or so...
You could add the .3 after shooting 10 and see what the primers look like and ease of removal...2400 is forgiving in that round and revolver...
Regards
OP
OP
the Black Spot
Member
Thanks Harley
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